CZECH Railways (ČD) plans to introduce a number of new and refurbished trains when it launches the 2022 timetable on December 12.

“With the 2022 timetable, the biggest revolution awaits us in the quality, comfort and range of services since Railjets started operation seven years ago,” says ČD CEO, Mr Ivan Bednárik. “We will put new trains worth approximately Koruna 9bn ($US 408.2m) into operation. Many of them will enter operation from the start of the 2022 timetable, while more new trains will be introduced over the course of 2022 in line with our plan.”

ČD will introduce 10 new five-car 200km/h InterJet trains supplied by a consortium of Siemens and Škoda Transportation on domestic long-distance service. The locomotive-hauled coaches will be used for the West Express fast trains from Prague to Western Bohemia, including to Pilsen, Karlovy Vary and Cheb, and the Krušnohor express trains on the Prague - Ústí nad Labem - Karlovy Vary - Cheb route. The trains feature Wi-Fi, power sockets, and spaces for wheelchairs and bikes, but will not include a restaurant car. ČD ordered the coaches, which are based on Siemens’ Viaggio Comfort platform, in 2018, and ordered another 180 Viaggio Comfort coaches in April to be formed into nine-car trains for services at up to 230km/h. The latter order is due to be delivered between 2024 and 2026.

ČD introduced the RS1 railcars, purchased from Hohenzollern Railways, into service in September.

ČD will introduce five new three-car 160km/h double-deck push-pull trains manufactured by Škoda Transportation for regional passenger transport on the non-electrified line between Ostrava and Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. The trains will be hauled by class 750 diesel locomotives. The new rolling stock will replace coaches that were manufactured in Germany in the 1980s and 1990s.

New RegioPanter EMUs manufactured by Škoda Transportation will be used to replace ageing rolling stock including push-pull trains in Pilsen. ČD is also renovating 12 Stadler GTW 2/6 class 646 regional DMUs purchased from German Rail in 2018, with some already in service and others due to enter service soon.

ČD also introduced class 841.2 RegioShuttle RS 1 railcars purchased from Hohenzollern Railways (HzL) into regional service from Postoloprty to Česká Lipa via Louny and Lovosice at the end of September, with the trains still in the HzL livery due to the urgent need to introduce them. The fleet will gradually be upgraded with air-conditioning, power sockets and new upholstery.

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